-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Debbie Benzine lost her first husband to heart disease when he was 44 . His death left her to raise a young child alone . For 16 years , she stayed single because , `` going through it once was enough for me . ''

When she met Dale Benzine , he weighed around 300 pounds but was in pretty good physical shape . Yet over time , she watched as the former football player started taking pills for his high cholesterol and high blood pressure , more for anxiety and gout , and insulin shots for his Type 2 diabetes .

`` His girth got bigger , as did his neck , which caused sleep apnea , '' she remembers . After the Atlanta couple got married , she found herself buying him bigger and bigger clothes .

When her insurance company announced that bariatric surgery , or weight-loss surgery , would be covered under the couple 's plan , she told her husband about it . `` I knew he had to do something , but I was n't sure he was ready for something so drastic , '' she says .

He was .

The doctor had flat-out told Benzine : `` Lose weight or die . '' He was tired of taking so many medications and not having enough energy to simply live life .

`` One day ... you find out that you 're 56 years old and if you want to see 66 you better do something about it , '' he says .

There are several types of bariatric surgery . With gastric bypass , a new stomach about the size of a golf ball is created by cutting across the top of the stomach and connecting the smaller pouch with the intestines .

Another type involves placing an adjustable band around the upper portion of the stomach . The device can be tightened or loosened at subsequent doctor 's visits . It can help patients feel fuller faster and eat less . Unlike gastric bypass , adjustable gastric band procedures can be easily reversed .

Benzine decided to do the gastric bypass surgery . Although doctors are n't sure why , studies have shown gastric bypass puts Type 2 diabetes into remission in most obese patients . Dale also did n't want to have the option of reversing the surgery .

`` In the back of your mind you can always take the band off , '' he says of the lap-band procedure . `` I did n't want to be able to go back . ''

Getting approved for the surgery was more difficult than he expected . Many people who have bariatric surgery gain the weight back , so insurance companies are often wary of paying for the procedure . Benzine saw his primary care physician , a nutritionist , a cardiologist , a pulmonologist , a gastroenterologist and a psychiatrist -- all of whom had to sign off .

The psychiatrist told Benzine he rejected upward of half his patients because they were n't prepared to make the necessary life changes after the surgery . Benzine admitted that 10 years ago he would n't have been ready either .

`` I 'm from Wisconsin , '' he says . `` I enjoyed my beer , brats and cheese too much . '' But kids and grandkids `` changes things . '' He was ready .

He eventually got the go-ahead . The day of his surgery , his wife recalls she was an emotional wreck . `` I tried to dissuade -LRB- him -RRB- from having it . What if they made a wrong cut ? What if he did n't wake up ? What if he had a heart attack on the table ? ''

The surgery was a success , but he was far from the ideal patient . Shortly after surgery he ate a popsicle too fast and starting throwing up . When he got home , he continued his trial-and-error period , getting sick as he learned his limits .

`` Imagine after you eat your big Thanksgiving dinner -- times 10 , '' he says of overeating with his smaller stomach . `` And you ca n't do anything about it . You 're just so miserable and it 's either got to come up or go out . ''

He started out on a liquid diet , then pureed his food . Slowly he introduced solids .

`` We did n't go to happy hour or dinner with friends because he was uncomfortable , '' Debbie Benzine says . `` I started hiding out to eat because I felt guilty . ''

It was like being a baby and learning to eat all over again , Benzine says . He realized that meat -- steak , chicken , turkey -- was too tough for his stomach to handle . But popcorn went down easily . He developed 10 rules for himself , and other bariatric patients , and the weight began to fall off .

In six months , he had lost more than 125 pounds .

The hardest thing for him was filling time . He had to learn to reward himself with activities instead of food . He now smokes a cigar instead of eating a bag of chips , or plans a big weekend getaway to celebrate a work success . He orders an appetizer instead of an entree when he goes out to play cards with friends during the week .

His daily diet routinely consists of Greek yogurt , protein bars , soup , popcorn , cheese and crackers . He does n't eat large meals , just smaller portions whenever he 's hungry .

In some ways , his wife has had to alter her lifestyle to fit his . It has n't been easy , the couple says , but it has been worth it .

`` I 'm 57 going on 37 , '' Benzine says with a laugh . `` No pun intended -- I 'm like a kid in a candy store . '' He plans to attend his 40th high school reunion in June with pride : `` I know I 'll be one of the only people who can say they weigh less at that reunion than they did in high school . ''

More importantly , `` I will have my husband and best friend around for a long time , '' his wife says .

Follow Dale 's '10 Commandments ' of bariatric surgery

1 -RRB- Set your goals early , both in pounds to lose and the date by which you want to achieve this loss . Keep a daily log or scorecard of your weight loss .

2 -RRB- Trial and error of foods and liquids will be necessary , but painful . Blueberries were terrible for me , but butter-free popcorn worked . Go figure . Hint : Keep your anti-nausea pills close by -- you will definitely need them in the beginning .

3 -RRB- Find a high-protein breakfast and lunch that you can live with each day . -LRB- Mine was Greek yogurt for breakfast and smoothies with strawberry , banana and chocolate protein . -RRB- Also , stay true to your vitamin regimen , especially vitamin B12 , vitamin D and calcium .

4 -RRB- Concentrate on changing your daily eating habits from three large meals per day , plus snacks , to five to six small meals .

5 -RRB- Stay hydrated ! It 's very important that you avoid getting dehydrated , so avoid intake of caffeine , carbonated sodas , beer and alcohol .

6 -RRB- Move more while you are eating less . Start out walking 30 minutes , four to five days a week . Build up to walking farther and faster , and more often , while adding weight lifting two to three days per week . You will be amazed how fast the weight will start dropping once you get into this routine , plus your dog will love it even more than you !

7 -RRB- Start rewarding your new body with activities instead of food . Reward yourself by going to see a favorite performer if you hit a weight loss goal . Join a card club , start reading again , or make a movie date with your significant other each week . Replacing your `` going out to eat '' time with activities will arguably be the best move you will make during this whole journey .

8 -RRB- It 's OK to leave food on your plate ! Regardless of what your mother said growing up , children in Africa , India or China are n't going to be affected if you leave food on your plate when eating at home or away . People will ask why , but trust me , you wo n't be hurting their feelings if you just say you 're full .

9 -RRB- Order an appetizer as your main meal when eating out . You will be amazed how full you will be after eating the smaller servings and your pocketbook will also thank you .

10 -RRB- And last , but definitely not least , welcome and embrace your support network , be it a wife , friend , business colleague , etc. . You will have good days and a few bad ones and the unconditional love and support these people will show you will help you push through the bad and be there to help celebrate the good !

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Dale Benzine loses more than 130 pounds after bariatric surgery

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Surgery puts his Type 2 diabetes into remission and lowers his BP , cholesterol

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`` I 'm 57 going on 37 , '' Benzine says with a laugh